Spetses on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Spetses is not a cheap island, but a budget trip is possible with a simple room, bus or e-bike and street food. Plan on about €80 per person per day (bed €40, food €25, sights €5, transport €10), less on weekdays and outside July and August.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €80 | €180 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €50 | €90 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €15 | €35 |
| Local transport | €10 | €25 | €50 |
| Per person, per day | €80 | €170 | €355 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Spetses day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the waterfront from Dapia to the Old Harbour (about 20–30 minutes)
- See the pebble-mosaic courtyard of Agios Nikolaos church on the way to the Old Harbour
- Explore the stepped lanes of Kastelli, the old upper village behind Dapia
- Swim at Agii Anargyri and walk along the rocks to the Bekiris cave
- Walk to the lighthouse at the entrance of the Old Harbour and the Panagia Armata chapel
- Watch wooden boats being built and repaired at the traditional boatyards of the Old Harbour
Cheap eats
- Souvlaki or gyros pitta behind Dapia: about €4
- Cheese pie or koulouri from a bakery: a few euros
- Amygdalota almond sweets from a Dapia pastry shop: a few euros
- Taverna lunch in Kounoupitsa or Ligoneri: about €20 per person
- Picnic of bakery goods and fruit on a beach: under €10
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in rooms in Kounoupitsa or the back streets of Dapia, about €60–100 a night for a double, within 10–15 minutes' walk of the harbour. There are no big hostels, so book ahead for summer weekends.
Getting around cheaply
The cheapest way around is on foot in town and the summer bus from Dapia to Agii Anargyri and Ligoneri. A bicycle or e-bike is cheaper than a water taxi for beach days. From Athens, the fast boat from Piraeus takes about 2–2.5 hours; drivers can park at Kosta and cross in 10–15 minutes.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk Dapia and Kastelli, visit the Bouboulina Museum (a few euros)
- Lunch: souvlaki pitta behind Dapia (about €4–8 with a drink)
- Afternoon: summer bus to Agii Anargyri, swim and walk to the Bekiris cave
- Evening: walk to the Old Harbour and eat at a simple taverna (about €20)
- Total: about €35–45 plus your bed (€40 per person), so roughly €80
More ways to save
- Go Sunday to Thursday, when rooms are easier to find and cheaper.
- Avoid the Armata weekend in September unless you booked months ahead; rooms fill and prices rise.
- Buy water and snacks at a supermarket in Dapia before beach days, as beach bars charge more.
- Check the bus timetable at Dapia and plan beach days around it.
- Share a water taxi with other people going to the same beach to split the fixed fare.
- Bring your own snorkel instead of renting gear.
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Common questions
Can you visit Spetses on a budget?
Yes, at about €80 a day: stay in Kounoupitsa or the back streets of Dapia, use the summer bus and eat souvlaki.
What is the cheapest way to get around?
Walking in town, the summer bus to Agii Anargyri and Ligoneri, and a bicycle or e-bike for the round-island road.
What can you do for free?
Walk to the Old Harbour and the lighthouse, explore Kastelli, swim at the beaches and see the boatyards.